first macro/close up attempt.

[John_05]

this is my first attempt at taking close-up/macro shots. having to get so close with the camera i have (Fuji E510), i couldnt figure out a way to get better light. i had the barrel of the lens almost touching the compass when i shot so i didnt have alot of room to work with using the only light i could manipulate easily. in this shot, you can see the shadow of the lens on the compass. does anyone have any ideas that i could use to get better lighting, and any overall criticism/advice on the pic would be helpful too.
also, the shot was done with all manual settings, so i would appreciate any feedback about the settings i used. i will post the EXIF data after the pic. thank you (in advance) to anyone who gives me any comments/criticism/advice.



and here is the EXIF data i got from Exifer.

Make: FUJIFILM
Model: FinePix E510
Copyright:
Date modified: Sunday, January 29, 2006 8:34:45 PM
Orientation: Top / left side
X-Resolution: 72/1
Y-Resolution: 72/1
Resolution unit: Inch
Firmware version: Digital Camera FinePix E510 Ver1.00
YCbCr-Positioning: 2
Date taken: Sunday, January 29, 2006 8:34:45 PM
Date digitized: Sunday, January 29, 2006 8:34:45 PM
Exposure time : 1/125
Exposure program: Manual
Exposure mode: Manual
Exposure bias [EV]: 0.0
F-Number: F2.9
Focal length [mm]: 4.7
ISO value: 100
Shutter speed : 1/128
Aperture: F2.9
Max. aperture: F2.9
Subj. distance range: Unknown
Flash: Not fired, compulsory flash mode, return light not detected
Metering mode: Multi-segment
Light source: Tungsten
White balance: Manual
Sharpness: Hard
Brightness: 4.17
Colour space: sRGB
Sensing method: One-chip color area sensor
File source: DSC
Custom rendered: Custom
Scene type:
Subject program: Standard
Image width: 2592
Image height: 1944
Components configuration: YCbCr
Average compression ratio: 40/10
Focal plane X resolution: 4545/1
Focal plane Y resolution: 4545/1
Focal plane res. unit: 3
EXIF version: 0220
FlashPix version: 0100
Makernote: 46 55 4A 49 46 49 4C 4D 0C 00 00 00 15 00 00 00 07 00 04 00 00 00 30 31 33 30 00 10 02 00 08 00 00 00 0E 01 00 00 01 10 03 00 01 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 02 10 03 00 01 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 03 10 03 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 10 03 00 01 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 11 10 0A 00 01 00 00 00 16 01 00 00 20 10 ...
Compression: 6
X-Resolution: 72/1
Y-Resolution: 72/1
Resolution unit: Centimeter
JPEG offset: 1294
JPEG size: 9955
YCbCr-Positioning: 2
Index: R98
Version: 0100
Focus mode: 1
Focus warning: 0
Color: 0
White balance: 1024
Sharpness: 4
Flash mode: 2
Macro: 0
Exposure mode: 768
Blur warning: 0
AE warning: 0
Version: 0130
Slowsynchro: 0
Image quality: FINE
Unknown fields: 0/0

 

[Chiller]

This is kinda cool, for your first attempt.
Only that light distracts me a bit. Sorry..dont know much about your settings.

 

[John_05]

thanks Chiller. i dont like the light either, but im not sure how to get better light onto the compass, so i thought i would ask here. i dont have much to work with other then the flexible type lamp i used for that shot and a couple of regular lamps, so i thought someone here might have an idea that would help. i thought if i posted the settings/EXIF data, someone might be able to tell me if they could have been set better to get a better shot, or if i just need different/better light.

 

[Neophyte Photographer]

off topic...but

how many ppl here use the reverse lens macro tequnique? I DO

nice shot btw

 

[THORHAMMER]

I think the fisheyed cap is making reflections that are fooling the focus....so only the blue part is focused... put a grocery bag over the lamp and rubberband it, It should take away the harsh spots that reflect it will at least be a lot more soft..

 

[John_05]

I think the fisheyed cap is making reflections that are fooling the focus....so only the blue part is focused... put a grocery bag over the lamp and rubberband it, It should take away the harsh spots that reflect it will at least be a lot more soft..

im not sure what you mean by "fisheyed cap". the camera i used is a Fuji E510 and i dont have any attachment lenses for it. its just a normal "point and shoot" digital camera. as for fooling the focus, i manually focused it but i had to handhold it so i may have moved some. with the E510, you have to hold the exposure button on the side and then use the zoom buttons to manually focus.

thanks for the tip on the lighting. i was going to try using a piece of white fabric i have because the bulbs i have probably wont be strong enough to produce enough light thru anything else. the main problem i had was getting enough light onto the compass because i had to be so close with the camera. i get a lot of lens flare with the Fuji, so i didnt want to aim the light straight towards the camera. a friend of mine suggested i use something to diffuse the light like the fabric i have, and use a mirror to aim more light where i need it, so i am going to try that tonight or tomorrow.

thanks again for the tips, and if you could explain what you meant by "fisheyed cap", i would appreciate it.